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Dale Harris & Jez Henderson's "Dark Tales"

Dark Tales by Dale Harris and Jez Henderson
Dark Tales by Dale Harris and Jez Henderson
(photo by Sam Morgan Moore)

From dreamy soundscapes to the aggressive, Spanish-classical, acoustic steel-string and electric-midi guitars, drums and percussion, composed and improvised gems infused with world and jazz sounds.


Availability: Available from cdbaby.com - visit the Dark Tales Homepage
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Release Date: December 23rd 2007

  dale harris
     jez henderson

                                                                                                   FEATURING

                                                                                                        CAROLINE NEMORIN
                                                                          ROB HERMANS

                                   dark tales beyond

Personnel:

                                     Dale Harris (guitars, bass)

                                     with Jez Henderson (Drums & Percussion)

                                     Caroline Nemorin (Flute)

                                     Rob Hermans (Poet)

 

 

Track Listings:

 

1 BROTHER AND SISTER
2 FANTASIA FOR  AYRTON SENNA
3 DARK TALES (part I)
4 DARK TALES (part II AKA Headache From Hell)
5 DARK TALES (parts III-IV-V)
6 BALACLAVA ROAD
7 OUT BACK (Part I)
8 OUT BACK (Part II)

9 CRUISE CONTROL
10 I FOUND A SHELL

 

Compositions 1,2,4,5,6 by Dale Harris (arr. Harris & Henderson)
 Compositions 3,7,8,9 by Dale Harris& Jez Henderson
 Composition 10 by Dale Harris & Robert Hermans

Produced & Engineered by Dale Harris, Jez Henderson & Mark Hawkes


Dark Tales is an exciting and unique project that combines elements of quasi-impressionist classical, Latin-jazz infused with Nuevo-Spanish undertones, and experimental improvisations. The line-up consists of two English musicians: guitarist Dale Harris (better known as a concert Classical/Spanish guitarist) and Jez Henderson (drums/percussion) plus some special guests. All of the tracks introduce original compositions by Harris, Henderson and Hermans. The result is a musically satisfying and open-minded outing. Harris sounds rejuvenated and refreshed in this format, as he switches between Classical, Steel-string acoustic and an electric guitar that he often plays in combination with a midi-triggered guitar synthesizer. The result produces some luminous timbres and textures that eases the usual hard attack of the electric guitar.

‘Drones’ (often heard in Indian Classical music) are occasionally employed against improvised solo sections instead of merely repeating the harmonies that accompany the melody in traditional forms of jazz. Thus, the bluesy theme of Brother and Sister appears between an Indian-esque solo section with a sitar-like guitar solo. The beautiful melody in Fantasia For Ayrton Senna displays tenderness, sadness and joy as a tribute to the late famous grand prix multi-world champion. There is fascinating free-style interplay between drums and guitar on Dark Tales (part I) where swing-jazz meets atonality. Out Back (part I) resonates with Australian-Aborigonie rhythms and harmony. The percussion moves to the fore in Out Back (Part II) where some imaginative sound-scapes are created. Cruise Control is a fusion of a Spanish-Jazz-rock and descends into a 1970’s rock-shuffle rhythm against some strident alternative harmony (where Bartok almost meets Ravel’s Bolero). Rob Hermans (jnr.) sensitively reads the poem ‘I found a shell’ written by his late father Robert Hermans accompanied with some deeply resounding modal harmonies created by Dale Harris on his electric midi-guitar.


This is a fascinating original collection of music by some of the finest creative contempory musicians in the field today.

I am indebted to all the musicians who contributed to the making of this recording. Special thanks goes to Mark Hawkes for his patience, professionalism, Earl Grey tea, and for putting up with some unusual requests concerning microphone placement and mixing. Thanks also to Rob Hermans who brushed up on his Dutch accent and articulation and delivered some inspiring poetry readings. I was first introduced to Jez Henderson in the early 1990’s. He struck me as someone with a unique musical vision and possessing superb musical communication skills. The origins of this album commenced in Jez’s dining room. Much to the distain of his housemates, his drum kit sat unswerving in the center of the room. The majority of the compositions here went through numerous  transformations before finally captured in this recording.  

 

The guitars that I used on this recording are as follows: Tokai Telecaster fitted with a Shadow Midi System and Yamaha TX7 midi / Ovation Adamas / Manuel Perez Paez Flamenco Guitar / Manuel Contreras II ‘doble-tapa’ Spruce and Rio Classical Guitar / Masaru Matano (Pine and Indian Rosewood) Classical Guitar / Steinberg Headless Bass.

 

The concept for many of the compositions on this album is rooted in tragedy. The Brazilian Grand Prix driver Ayrton Senna crashed and died during the 1994 San Marino race. Although the world has lost a truly remarkable sportsman his memory lives on in charitable foundations and Grand Prix circuits of which there are numerous corners and chicanes named in memory of him. Moreover, the Poetry in ‘I Found A Shell’ is in memory of Robert Hermans and these tracks are dedicated to his widow Marlene & son Rob. These memories are synonymous with this recording.

 

Dale Harris


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